Stawamus Chief Provincial Park and Granitic Dome Canada

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park

The Stawamus Chief or Stawamus Chief Mountain is a granitic dome located adjacent to the town of Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. It towers over 700 m above the waters of nearby Howe Sound. It is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. The Squamish, indigenous people of the area consider the Chief to be a place of spiritual significance. There are many hiking trails associated with this place. The mountain gets its name from the village located near its foot. There is also Stawamus River and Stawamus Lake in the area.

Geology

The Chief is part of a medium-sized pluton of a granitic rock that was initially formed in the early Cretaceous by the slow cooling and solidification of molten magma deep below the surface of the Earth. The shape of the granite body probably occurred mostly due to the erosion of overlying rocks over tens of millions of years. The glacial erosion processes are responsible for the tall steep walls that define the Chief, as well as the excavation of Howe Sound, a fjord. Due to Glacial erosion, the chief surface is polished and striation occurs.

Polish and striations observable at the very summit of the formation require that, at the peak of glaciation, the entire formation was buried under a substantial thickness of ice. The striking gullies that separate the three summits of the Chief are the result of fracturing and mass-wasting of large blocks along a series of vertical, and roughly north-south oriented deep-seated fracture sets. The Stawamus Chief Provincial Park may be the root of an extinct volcano because, in the Squamish area, Garibaldi Volcanic Belt volcanism ceased during or shortly after the end of the last ice age. The Chief measures approximately three square kilometers. The summits are separated by several deep gullies and cliffs separate the summits from the forest floor.

There are three main summit areas-

First Peak or the South Summit -610 m

Second Peak or the Centre Summit-655 m

Third Peak or the North Summit -702 m

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is a provincial park established in 1997. It encompasses both the Stawamus Chief and the Slhanay granitic domes and the surrounding forest. Various activities offered in the park include hiking, rock climbing, and camping. There are views from the park across Howe Sound and of Mount Garibaldi to the north. The park is located to the south of the town of Squamish, on the Sea to Sky Highway at the top NE corner of Howe Sound.

Also read- An Unusual Geologic Trail- The Ice age flood national geologic trail USA

Stawamus chief trail

Stawamus Chief Trail is a 6.0-km loop trail near Squamish. It is considered a challenging route and a popular area for camping, hiking, and rock climbing. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. All three main summits are accessible via the Chief’s maintained backside hiking trails.

These trails are steep and rugged. Due to the Steep and Sleepary slippery trail chains and ladders have been bolted to the rock. The main attraction at the chief is the large granitic façade which is accessed by the trail or by rock climbing. The several peaks offer a view of the Sea to Sky Highway 99 and the river below. The Stawamus Chief is one of the region’s classic hiking trails, offering incredible views of the area surrounding Squamish, including Howe Sound, and north to Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Stawamus chief hike

Chief, the massive cliff face is one of North America’s largest granite monoliths and one of the most classic hikes in the Sea to Sky Corridor. The Stawamus Chief is a challenging hike, mainly because it doesn’t beat around the bush. The trail goes straight up, right off the start. The Stawamus Chief has three distinct summits and all three are accessible-

First Peak

The First Peak is best for the views of Howe Sound. It’s a Spectacular place with sheer cliffs on three sides, to have lunch or a snack. The round-trip distance from the parking lot is 4km, but due to the steep nature of the trail, allow yourself 2-3 hours for the hike.

Second peak

The largest of the three summits is Second Peak. It has all kinds of perches and viewpoints that offer panoramic views of Howe Sound, Squamish, and the peaks of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Both First Peak and Third Peak are visible from here and there is plenty of space for everyone.

Third Peak

Third Peak is the highest of the three summits. One of the coolest viewpoints in the area, the North Gully sits between Second and Third Peak and has cliff walls with a 60-meter gap in between. It offers a stunning view of Mt. Garibaldi and the Squamish townsite below.

How to Reach Stawamus Chief Provincial Park

Vancouver Airport is the nearest airport to Stawamus Chief. To get to the Chief, take the Highway westbound towards Horseshoe Bay and continue onto Highway 99 (Sea to Sky Highway). Continue along the highway and reach Shannon Falls.

 Sources-vancouvertrails.com, bcparks.ca, Wikipedia.org